Subject and Object Questions in English

Subject and Object in English

The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that performs the action:

Wewant some fruit juice.

Karenlikes Fred.

Smokingcauses cancer.

Danielmade a sandwich.

The earthquake damaged my house.

Jenniferlied to Sam.

The object of a sentence is the person or thing that is acted upon, or receives the action:

We want some fruit juice.

Karen likes Fred.

Smoking causes cancer.

Daniel made a sandwich.

The earthquake damaged my house.

Jennifer lied to Sam.

Object questions in English

Most questions in English are object questions – we want to know about the receiver of the action. These questions follow the QUASM formula: Question word – Auxiliary verb – Subject – Main verb.

For questions in the simple present, the auxiliary verbs are do and does:

What do you want to drink?
We want some fruit juice.

Who does Karen like?
Karen likes Fred.

What does smoking cause?
Smoking causes cancer.

For questions in the simple past, the auxiliary verb is did:

What did Daniel make?
Daniel made a sandwich.

What did the earthquake damage?
The earthquake damaged my house.

Whodid Jennifer lie to?
Jennifer lied to Sam.

Subject questions in English

However, sometimes we want to ask about the subject. We don’t know the person or thing who performed the action, and we want to find out.

This type of question is called a subject question, and subject questions do NOT use the auxiliary verbs do, does, and did.

How to form subject questions:

Who / What + verb in simple present or simple past + object ?

Examples of subject questions in the simple present:

Whowants some fruit juice?We want some fruit juice.

Wholikes Fred?Karenlikes Fred.

Whatcauses cancer?Smoking causes cancer.

Examples of subject questions in the simple past:

Whomade a sandwich?Daniel made a sandwich.

Whatdamaged your house?The earthquakedamaged my house.

Wholied to Sam?Jennifer lied to Sam.

Subject and Object Questions in Other Verb Tenses

In other verb tenses – present continuous, present perfect, etc. – the auxiliary verbs are forms of the verbs be and have. In these verb tenses, we still use the verbs be and have in both subject and object questions:

Present continuous:

Subject Q: Whois washing the car?

Object Q: Whatis Paul washing?

Answer: Paulis washing the car.

Past continuous:

Subject Q: Whowas talking about the problem?

Object Q: Whatwas the manager talking about?

Answer: The managerwas talking about the problem.

Present perfect:

Subject Q: Whohas spent $1000 on a computer?

Object Q: How much have your parents spent on a computer?

Answer: My parents have spent $1000 on a computer.

Present perfect continuous:

Subject Q: Whohas been working on this project?

Object Q: Whathave you been working on?

Answer: I have been working on this project.

Future with WILL:

Subject Q: Whatwill help the students?

Object Q: Whowill this book help?

Answer: This textbook will help the students.

Future with GOING TO:

Subject Q: Whois going to order dessert?

Object Q: Whatare you going to order?

Answer: We are going to order dessert.

The simplest rule for subject/object questions

When you are going to ask a question in the simple present or simple past using who or what, ask yourself,

“Am I asking about the doer of the action or the receiver of the action?”

If you’re asking about the doer/subject, then DON’T use do/does/did:

Who does want fruit juice?
Who wants fruit juice?

What did damage your house?
What damaged your house?

If you’re asking about the receiver/object, then YES – use do/does/did:

Quiz: Subject & Object Questions in English

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You will see a sentence, and then two possible questions asking about it. Only ONE of the questions is formed correctly. Look carefully at the question to see if it is asking about the subject or object of the sentence, and then choose the grammatically-correct question. After you finish, click "Get Results" to check your answers.

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Question 1

My sister enjoyed the movie.

A

Who did enjoy the movie?

B

Who enjoyed the movie?

Question 1 Explanation:

This is a SUBJECT question.

Question 2

Teresa visits Germany every summer.

A

What country does Teresa visit every summer?

B

What country Teresa visits every summer?

Question 2 Explanation:

This is an OBJECT question.

Question 3

The dog broke the TV.

A

What did the dog break?

B

What the dog broke?

Question 3 Explanation:

This is an OBJECT question.

Question 4

I left my keys at the office.

A

Who did leave their keys at the office?

B

Who left their keys at the office?

Question 4 Explanation:

This is a SUBJECT question.

Question 5

Nathan gave me a bottle of wine.

A

What did Nathan give you?

B

What Nathan gave you?

Question 5 Explanation:

This is an OBJECT question.

Question 6

The repairman fixed my roof.

A

Who did fix your roof?

B

Who fixed your roof?

Question 6 Explanation:

This is a SUBJECT question.

Question 7

The traffic made me late for work.

A

What did make you late for work?

B

What made you late for work?

Question 7 Explanation:

This is a SUBJECT question.

Question 8

Insurance costs $100 per month.

A

How much does insurance cost?

B

How much insurance costs?

Question 8 Explanation:

This is an OBJECT question.

Question 9

Alyssa hired Joe for the job.

A

Who did Alyssa hire for the job?

B

Who Alyssa hired for the job?

Question 9 Explanation:

This is an OBJECT question.

Question 10

The beautiful beach draws tourists to this area.

A

What does draw tourists to this area?

B

What draws tourists to this area?

Question 10 Explanation:

This is a SUBJECT question.

Question 11

Peter warned Ralph about the danger.

A

Who did warn Ralph about the danger?

B

Who warned Ralph about the danger?

Question 11 Explanation:

This is a SUBJECT question.

Question 12

We invite everyone to our parties.

A

Who do you invite to your parties?

B

Who you invite to your parties?

Question 12 Explanation:

This is an OBJECT question.

Question 13

My friend helped me move to a new apartment.

A

Who did help you move to a new apartment?

B

Who helped you move to a new apartment?

Question 13 Explanation:

This is a SUBJECT question.

Question 14

Henry plays the trumpet.

A

What musical instrument does Henry play?

B

What musical instrument Henry plays?

Question 14 Explanation:

This is an OBJECT question.

Question 15

I want you to lead this project.

A

Who do you want to lead this project?

B

Who you want to lead this project?

Question 15 Explanation:

This is an OBJECT question.

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